Only at the Mahayana Stage Does the Reversal System Appear - Chapter 433

Chapter 431 The effect is very good

. Jiang Li’s biggest impression of the Gentleman Country during his recent trip was its rigidity.

People lived by established rules, their words and actions dictated by the teachings of the Confucian sages, leaving very little room for freedom.

It was like a carriage on an official road. The road seemed wide and accessible, but that was all it was. Carriages were restricted to the official road, far less free than pedestrians.

Pedestrians could roam in the roadside jungles, mountain streams, and open fields, far more freely than carriages.

Jiang Li wasn’t sure if the Gentleman Country the Confucian sages envisioned was like this, but it certainly wasn’t.

The Gentleman Country had too many rules. Buying something took ages, and people’s words and actions were strictly regulated. Deviating from these rules was considered unworthy of being a gentleman.

Jiang Li and the other two found this too cumbersome.

A few days of sightseeing was fine, but staying for months or years would be utterly tedious.

Mirroring the overall atmosphere of the Gentleman Country was the soon-to-be-debuted Dong Zhongren.

Dong Zhongren appeared, dressed more solemnly and appropriately than usual.

He was a serious man, elegantly and formally dressed. He knew more than all the ministers of rites from all the great dynasties combined.

Just as it was an unspoken rule in many countries that the minister of justice must attend the imperial academy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so too must the minister of rites undergo a period of Confucian study.

Dong Zhongren followed the timeless rules of Confucian birthdays with meticulous care.

He began by praising the birthday of Confucianism, describing it as a coincidence of coincidences, a necessity within the confines of chance, and a blessing for all beings. He

then reviewed the legendary deeds of the Confucian sage, highlighting their greatness.

Of course, Dong Zhongren omitted the legend of the Confucian sage seeking the Daoist ancestor’s guidance.

He then recounted the relationship between Dong Zhongshu, the founder of Confucianism, and the Confucian sage. The two were several generations apart, and Dong Zhongren diligently tried to position Dong Zhongshu’s status closer to that of the Confucian sage.

Jiang Li was quite impressed by Dong Zhongren’s imagination.

Jiang Li had originally thought Ji Zhi’s opening speech before the martial arts tournament was boring enough, but he hadn’t expected someone even more boring.

It made sense, considering Ji Zhi’s speech was prepared by the Ministry of Rites, which was embellished with Confucianism. Given that connection, it was understandable that it was boring.

After the lengthy reminiscence, the carefully prepared performances—poetry recitations, plays, and the like—

came. Was the performance good? It was. Did it reflect the rich cultural heritage of Kyushu? It was.

But it was just boring.

What if Bai Hongtu were to do a stand-up comedy routine?

Jiang Li suddenly realized his logic was off.

Jiang Li glared at Bai Hongtu; surely being around that idiot for so long had affected his thinking.

Bai Hongtu looked innocent, unsure why Jiang Li was glaring at him with those big, bulging eyes.

“Jingxin, you’re here too?” Jiang Li stumbled upon Saint Jingxin, with Bai Hongtu between them.

The Saint of the Pure Heart hummed, a whisper as soft as a mosquito’s: “I’m here on behalf of the Red Dust Pure Land.”

She summoned her courage and started a conversation: “Jiang Li, what did you think of the Confucian performance?”

“It was quite boring.” Considering this was Confucian territory, even if he lowered his voice to the lowest level, the Fusion Stage cultivators would still be able to hear clearly. Jiang Li chose to focus his voice so only the Saint of the Pure Heart could hear.

“I think so too. Even if life in the Red Dust Pure Land is dull, there are books to keep you company. Reading is better than watching a performance.”

Initially, the Saint of the Pure Heart was a little annoyed. She had been sent here by her master, who must have known the Confucian performance was boring.

But when she met Jiang Li, she felt the trip was worth it.

“What are you reading lately?” Jiang Li was surprised. He didn’t remember the Saint of the Pure Heart as someone who enjoyed reading.

In his impression, the Saint of the Pure Heart in the Red Dust Pure Land was either playing games, practicing, or, upon hearing about his arrival, staying in her boudoir for a long time without emerging. She rarely read.

The Pure Heart Saint hesitated, too embarrassed to admit she was reading a novel she’d written: “A book about the Mahayana stage.”

Jiang Li, assuming it was a piece about her cultivation experiences, joked, “Why don’t you just say you’re reading a book about me?”

Jiang Li agreed, and the Pure Heart Saint smiled happily: “Yes, I’m reading a book about you.”

Speaking of her own novel, “The Tyrant Mahayana Fell in Love with Me,” the Pure Heart Saint felt a strange feeling.

Worried her writing wasn’t good enough, she anonymously printed the book and distributed it to all the disciples of the Red Dust Pure Land, giving each a copy to see how it would perform.

The results were excellent; everyone fell in love with Jiang Li after reading it.

“Why would I create a rival for myself?” The Pure Heart Saint felt the urge to find Ji Zhi and transport herself back a few years.

She secretly approached Su Wei, asking if he could make a regret potion.

Su Wei looked at her strangely and said he didn’t have a regret potion, but he did have a similar elixir—the Forget Regret Potion, which could make people forget regretful actions.

Of course, the Pure Heart Saint didn’t take it.

“This person looks a little unfamiliar.” Jiang Li noticed a stranger sitting at the table with them. He was only at the Nascent Soul stage, but he looked quite old.

The stranger replied respectfully, “Greetings to the Human Emperor. I am the King of the Gentleman Country.”

Jiang Li understood. This was the Gentleman Country, and the King naturally had to sit at the head table.

Bai Hongtu asked, “Your cultivation isn’t very high. How did you become the King of the Gentleman Country?”

“Greetings to Sect Leader Bai. The Gentleman Country doesn’t judge status by strength, but by virtue. I believe I’m still a long way from being the gentleman that Confucian sages demand, yet everyone wants me to be the King.”

“I have some impression of you. Are you Dong Zhongren’s junior apprentice?” Yu Yin looked at the King of the Gentleman Country and thought he looked familiar.

“Greetings to the Queen. Dong Zhongren is my senior apprentice.”

Bai Hongtu was surprised. How could the King of the Gentleman Country, with his average talent, become Dong Zhongren’s junior apprentice?

As if sensing Bai Hongtu’s confusion, the King of the Gentleman Kingdom said, “Master only considers character, not talent, when accepting disciples. I’m lucky to have caught your eye.”

“Given your status in Confucianism, it should be easy for you to obtain resources to aid your cultivation,” Jiang Li asked.

The King of the Gentleman Kingdom said shamefacedly, “My talent is mediocre. How dare I waste the precious resources my senior brothers and sisters have painstakingly accumulated?”

“You’re only asking for trouble, and for others too. You’re only at the Nascent Soul stage, with a lifespan of only a few hundred years. Are you going to wait until your lifespan runs out and you pass away, leaving everyone in Dongzhong devastated?”

The great Confucian calligraphy appeared, speaking his mind without holding back. “

You’re the most rigid in Confucianism. No one in Dongzhong is as awkward as you.”

“Greetings, Senior Confucian Calligraphy,” the King of the Gentleman Kingdom saluted respectfully.

“Again, you have to go through this tedious formality every time you see me. Is it fun?”

“This is the etiquette.”

“You won’t listen to my advice. Do you have any choice?” The great Confucian calligraphy was at his wit’s end.

(End of this chapter)